Pakistani diplomat at UN slams Israel’s ‘extremist leaders’ for continuing Gaza war for political survival
Pakistani diplomat at UN slams Israel’s ‘extremist leaders’ for continuing Gaza war for political survival/node/2594090/pakistan
Pakistani diplomat at UN slams Israel’s ‘extremist leaders’ for continuing Gaza war for political survival
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Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour (L) greets Pakistan's ambassador to the UN Munir Akram (R) before the start of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza and the Middle East, at UN headquarters in New York City on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, is addressing a UN Security Council briefing in New York, US on March 18, 2025. (@PakistanPR_UN/X)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations on Tuesday criticized Israel’s “extremist leaders” for continuing the war in Gaza for their own political survival, as fresh Israeli airstrikes killed about 400 people, threatening to unravel a fragile ceasefire.
Addressing a UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Ambassador Munir Akram accused Israel of systematically eroding the ceasefire agreement reached in January and called for an end to its “slaughter” of the Palestinian people.
The ceasefire agreement was reached on January 15 following more than a year of Israeli airstrikes that flattened much of Gaza’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods.
In the weeks that followed, Hamas, which governs the enclave, returned several batches of Israeli hostages taken at the start of the war, and the international community began to discuss reconstruction plans for the war-ravaged territory.
“The agreement of 15th January for a ceasefire, for a three-phase ceasefire, offered a sliver of hope for the Palestinian people, for the Israeli people, and for the world community,” Akram said. “The Arab and OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation] reconstruction and peace plan was under consideration in capitals. It offered a road to peace.”
“But obviously, this glimmer of hope and hope for peace was not to the liking of the extremist leaders who rule Israel today,” he continued. “They see their survival in the continuation of the war.”
Akram said Israeli was guilty of violating every article of international law, urging the world community to respond with justice or risk the world order’s regression “into the barbarism from which the Charter of the United Nations was supposed to rescue us.”
Akram highlighted Israel’s deliberate efforts to dismantle the ceasefire agreement, starting with the imposition of a humanitarian blockade of Gaza. This, he said, was followed by restrictions on Palestinian Muslims from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
“These are all tactics of the oppressor,” he maintained. “And now, they have escalated to blatantly violate the ceasefire and resume attacks against the helpless Palestinians in Gaza who were just returning to rebuild their homes.”
The Pakistani envoy called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.
“The upcoming June conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is an important opportunity for the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution,” he said, adding that “to realize the possibility of peace, Israel’s aggression, its attacks and its slaughter of the Palestinians must stop.”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday praised the smooth organization and facilities provided during this year’s Hajj, despite facing intense heat in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operation began with the arrival of PIA flight PK732 in Islamabad earlier in the day, carrying 307 pilgrims. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of seven flights are scheduled to transport 1,496 pilgrims to Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Karachi on the first day of the repatriation operation.
“A total of seven flights carrying 1,496 pilgrims will land on June 11, while the post-Hajj flight operation will conclude on July 10 with the last flight landing in Islamabad,” Muhammad Umer Butt, spokesperson for the religious affairs ministry, informed.
Speaking to Arab News at Islamabad International Airport, returning pilgrims praised the Hajj experience, describing it as spiritually uplifting and logistically smooth, crediting the Saudi authorities for their efforts.
“It [Hajj] was very good and an amazing experience,” said Muhammad Waseem from Attock. “It was very hot, but the Saudi government had made good arrangements— there was water and fans everywhere.”
He said the Saudi authorities had taken excellent care of the pilgrims and ensured things remained smooth.
Those who followed their group schedules found the experience far less strenuous, he continued.
“Only those people got tired and faced difficulties who did not follow their scheduled timings fixed by the authorities for different groups for the Hajj rituals,” he noted.
Abdul Malik, a pilgrim from Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, echoed similar sentiments.
“The arrangements were very good,” he said. “When Allah calls a person to visit His House and the Mosque of His Prophet [PBUH], it feels as if the person is soaring in the air. Such is the feeling which cannot be described in words.”
Samina Bibi from Islamabad called her Hajj deeply spiritual and fulfilling.
“My experience of Hajj was very good and I prayed for everyone, including all the Muslims,” she said. “Only Allah Almighty can understand my feelings during Hajj.”
Bibi informed it was her second visit to the Holy Places, having previously performed Umrah, and found the arrangements to be “very good.”
Abdul Haq, another pilgrim from Islamabad, reflected on the ease with which his journey unfolded.
“When I intended to perform Hajj, after that, Allah made everything easy upon easy, and we prayed for everyone including Muslims sitting in front of the Holy Kaaba,” he said. “The arrangements made by the Saudi government were excellent. We faced no difficulties during Hajj.”
While he acknowledged the natural hardships due to the heat in Mina and Muzdalifah, Haq said the experience remained “smooth and truly unforgettable.”
“In Hajj, there were not really difficulties, but there is hardship, mainly due to the heat,” he added. “However, overall, our Hajj was so wonderful that it’s beyond words, and we kept thanking the Saudi government for all the arrangements throughout.”
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities.
Pakistan, which sent over 116,000 pilgrims under both government and private schemes, was among several countries managing large-scale contingents in the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to New York next week to attend a high-level United Nations conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.
The International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution will take place at the UN headquarters from June 17-19.
The visit underscores Islamabad’s continued diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause amid the latest Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which began in October 2023. Around 54,000 people have been killed in the besieged enclave since, mostly women and children.
“DPM/FM shall be traveling to US to attend High-Level Segment of the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to be held at UN New York from 17-19 June 2025,” the Foreign Office said in a brief statement.
During his visit, Dar is expected to meet with counterparts from other member states and reaffirm Pakistan’s call for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and a just and lasting resolution to the conflict in line with UN and OIC resolutions.
The conference comes amid renewed international efforts to revive stalled negotiations and de-escalate tensions in the region.
Pakistan has long advocated for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Islamabad does not recognize Israel and has consistently condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza, especially following Israel’s latest offensive in response to Hamas-led attacks in late 2023, which have resulted in widespread casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
KARACHI: Analysts, investors and key business chambers on Wednesday broadly welcomed Pakistan’s federal budget for 2025-26 as a “balanced” attempt at fiscal consolidation and economic stimulus, though they raised concerns about the achievability of the government’s ambitious growth target of 4.2 percent and heavy reliance on existing taxpayers.
Presenting the federal budget on Tuesday, the government announced a range of tax reforms, spending priorities, and incentives aimed at maintaining its ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program while also trying to revive investor sentiment and ease pressure on the salaried class.
“The budget announced by the government yesterday [Tuesday] was pretty much in line with what we were expecting, a balanced budget,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Ltd, a major Pakistani financial services company.
“The government tried to ensure that the reforms being undertaken currently are on track and Pakistan continues with the fiscal consolidation phase.”
Tawfik was pointing to several key ongoing fiscal and structural reforms that align with Pakistan’s commitments under the IMF program and broader efforts to stabilize the economy.
These include fiscal consolidation through broadening the tax base, rationalizing subsidies, and phasing out tax exemptions; revenue mobilization though increased taxation on interest income, a phased reduction in the super tax and the removal of certain tax exemptions to improve revenue collection; and debt rationalization by managing debt servicing costs, likely by shifting to more concessional financing and restructuring high-cost debt.
While presenting the budget, the government also maintained it would continue its focus on providing relief to the salaried class and try to strike a balance between austerity with social protections.
This handout photograph taken on June 10, 2025, and released by Pakistan's National Assembly shows Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presenting the 2025–26 fiscal budget at the Parliament House in Islamabad. (AFP)
Tawfik agreed that the government had attempted to strike such a balance between providing relief and raising revenue, citing relief measures for the salaried class in the budget and the phased reduction in super tax.
“The government tried to make sure that we continue with the reforms that we have undertaken in the recent past, while ensuring that we meet the targets set for the upcoming fiscal year,” Tawfik said.
UNREALISTIC GROWTH TARGET?
However, Tawfik was skeptical of the government’s 4.2 percent GDP growth target, calling it “unrealistic” in the current economic context.
“Agriculture has been underperforming, and industries have not been performing due to the high cost of doing business. While we have seen interest rates coming down, agriculture would be the key sector to look forward to,” she said.
Arif Habib Ltd. has forecast GDP growth of around 3.6 percent for FY26, below the government’s target.
Tawfik also noted that while the government had projected inflation at 7.5 percent, her team expected it to be slightly lower, around 6 percent to 6.5 percent, although risks remained from global commodity prices, exchange rate pressures and the fading base effect.
She also flagged a projected current account deficit for FY26, in contrast to a surplus of $1.5 billion expected this fiscal year, citing pent-up demand and increased imports.
Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., echoed the sentiment that the budget was more “measured” compared to previous years.
“In the last two years, we’ve seen very strict budgets. This time, the government has been a little lenient. We’ve seen reform measures but also some relaxations,” Ghani said.
He pointed to tax relief for the salaried class and incentives for the construction sector, though he noted that the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation had decreased.
Corporate employees watching television screens as Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presents Pakistan’s $62 billion federal budget for fiscal year 2025–26, in Islamabad on June 10, 2025. (APP)
“There are many allied industries that benefit when we see measures taken for construction,” he said, while noting a less favorable outcome for the auto sector.
Ghani acknowledged the government’s target of a 2.4 percent primary surplus as “optimistic,” but achievable, and described the overall budget as “laying the groundwork” for sustained economic growth.
On the 4.2 percent GDP target, he noted:
“It’s an optimistic target… but with interest rates coming down, we hopefully will see contribution from [agriculture and industrial] segments, and we can get closer to the target.”
STRONG SUPPORT FROM EQUITY MARKETS
While the budget drew applause for investor-friendly policies and efforts toward macroeconomic stability, analysts cautioned that delivery on ambitious fiscal and growth targets remained key to sustaining momentum.
The stock market, however, responded positively from the opening bell.
“As soon as the market started today [Wednesday], it rallied close to 1,400 points,” Ghani said.
“We are in an IMF program and we’re seeing a decent budget this time. All of these things point to the fact that the market is going to reach new heights in the coming months.”
Indeed, despite macroeconomic challenges, the budget drew strong support from equity markets.
“Measures we have seen so far are broadly positive for the stock market,” said Tawfik. “The government kept capital gains tax and dividend income tax unchanged, which the market had feared would be increased.”
Sector-specific measures were seen as favorable for cement, steel, and textile sectors, particularly with subsidies for low-cost housing and removal of sales tax exemptions for certain regions, which levels the playing field for local manufacturers.
“Intraday today, market has gone north of 124,000 points, and we have seen an intraday surge of 2,000 points,” Tawfik said.
DIVIDED BUSINESS COMMUNITY
The reaction from Pakistan’s business chambers, however, was more mixed.
Both the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), warned that unless structural reforms were implemented and energy costs reduced, the budget may not succeed in spurring industrialization or export growth.
The FPCCI welcomed certain relief measures, particularly for the salaried class and property sector, but flagged concerns about revenue expectations.
“We welcome steps to end harassment of taxpayers,” said Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, noting the simplified tax return form as a positive step.
However, he added: “The increase in tax collection target by Rs2,500 billion ($8.8 billion) is unrealistic.”
The FPCCI also expressed disappointment over the absence of support packages for key sectors such as IT, minerals, fishing, and e-commerce.
People walk past the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry building in Karachi on May 4, 2024. (AN Photo/File)
The KCCI, by contrast, issued a harsh critique of the budget, calling it disconnected from ground realities.
“This is a camouflage budget,” said Zubair Motiwala, Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG) at KCCI. “There is no meaningful relief for the business community or the common man. Instead of reforms to expand the tax base, the government is squeezing existing taxpayers.”
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani added:
“Electricity bills are unaffordable, interest rates are high, and there’s no relief for the industrial sector. Without addressing the cost of doing business, you cannot expect growth or job creation.”
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday underscored the significance of sweeping tariff reforms built into the federal budget, calling them a structural economic shift aimed at making exports more competitive and lowering the cost of importing raw materials to support export-led growth.
The minister highlighted the development during a post-budget press conference after presenting the finance bill in the National Assembly a day earlier. The proposed federal budget for FY2025-26 includes a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion), while promising a 4.2% growth target and a reduction in the fiscal deficit to 3.9% of GDP.
Aurangzeb told journalists in Islamabad the government had removed additional customs duties on 4,000 out of 7,000 total tariff lines and reduced base customs duties on 2,700 tariff lines. Of these, 2,000 tariff lines are directly linked to raw materials and intermediate goods used by exporters.
“This is a big reform that has not been done over the last 30 years,” he said, adding the objective was to lower production costs for exporters and enable them to better compete in international markets.
“We are going to fundamentally change the DNA of the economy so that when we go toward growth, we don’t get into a dollar situation, we don’t get into a balance of payments problem,” he said. “We can continue to grow at a certain pace, which is export-led.”
Defending the reforms against criticism that they may lower revenue, the minister argued the long-term gains for the export sector outweigh short-term fiscal concerns.
“If we want an export-led economy, these are the steps we must take,” he added.
Aurangzeb also emphasized new legislation and enforcement tools, saying they were going to be key in plugging leaks and ensuring compliance.
“We have laws and taxes,” he said, “but without enforcement, they don’t work — and that’s what we’re focused on this year.”
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an official visit to the Gulf state tomorrow, with discussions expected to focus on economic cooperation and recent regional developments, the Pakistani foreign office said on Wednesday.
Sharif’s trip comes amid Pakistan’s deepening ties with Gulf nations, including the UAE, as it strives to revive its economy through export-led growth and foreign investment.
The UAE is Islamabad’s third-largest trading partner and a major investor. It is also home to over a million Pakistani expatriates and has been a critical ally during Islamabad’s recent financial crisis, depositing funds in Pakistan’s central bank to help unlock International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on 12 June 2025,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Prime Minister Sharif will hold high-level meetings with the UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” it added. “A wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern will be discussed during the high-level interactions.”
The foreign office said the visit reflected the “deep-rooted fraternal ties” between the two countries, marked by “mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation across multiple sectors.”
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed agreements exceeding $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.
Last month, Sharif held a phone call with the UAE president in which he expressed satisfaction over growing ties and pledged to transform the relationship into a “mutually beneficial economic partnership.”
During the call, the two leaders also discussed tensions between Pakistan and India that recently escalated into cross-border hostilities involving missile strikes, drones and artillery fire.
Sharif thanked the UAE for its “constructive diplomatic role” in defusing the crisis and said the Gulf nation had “always stood by Pakistan, through thick and thin.”
The UAE is also a strategically favorable destination for Pakistan due to its proximity, minimizing freight costs. The prime minister’s visit is expected to reinforce ongoing economic cooperation and explore new areas of strategic partnership.
